Another Success Story in Community Outreach: The Giving Tree in Tucson, AZ

A Christian Outreach group in Tucson, Arizona called the Giving Tree Outreach Program desperately needs our prayers.  This charity, directed by Libby Wright has been taking care of orphans and the homeless in Tucson for almost twenty years.  Unlike many other groups who attempt to help these classes of people, the Giving Tree has succeeded in doing their work without one penny of government money. 

Here is the mission statement for the group:

“The mission of The Giving Tree Outreach Program is to support and improve the quality of life for children, families, elderly and disabled individuals.  The Giving Tree is a faith-based organization committed to being an instrument in breaking the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and abuse in this community of disadvantaged and underserved individuals. This is accomplished through distribution of hot meals, food boxes, and clothing, tutoring mentoring, transportation, referrals, and providing a residence for homeless and transitional children to allow them an opportunity to experience a secure and enduring family home.”

Unlike many community outreach programs in other cities, the citizens of Tucson are very involved with and support the Giving Tree in what it is doing.  The level of community involvement has allowed the program to grow and develop more and newer programs for the disadvantaged and homeless.  Here are the eleven main programs that make up the Giving Tree Outreach Program:

Our Summer Feeding Program provides two meals a day to homeless and needy children. In the summer, these children do not have access to a school lunch program and do not receive meals consistently. During the summer of 2007, The Giving Tree served over 145,000 meals at this meal program. At the Grace Home, we are committed to providing a family role model for homeless and needy children and their mothers. Here they are cared for in a safe environment, served healthy meals and snacks, and are nurtured by our staff.  Promise Home provides intergenerational housing for those soon to embark on independent living.  This housing arrangement mimics that of a traditional family with all age groups represented; each relying on and working for one another.  Promise Home is the only housing facility in Tucson where fathers can stay with their children.    Our “H.E.L.P.”  ­Hands-on Education and Learning Program, is a tutoring and mentoring program for at-risk and homeless children and youth. Through  we provide a variety of activities, one-on-one tutoring, field trips, role model mentoring, music, dance and golf lessons. H.E.L.P. provides an opportunity for homeless and at-risk children to experience learning opportunities that may not otherwise be available to them. Through Project FEED , our twice weekly feeding program, more than 350 homeless and needy children, family members, elderly, and disabled individuals receive a hot meal, clothing, toiletries and emergency food boxes.   This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for children, teens and adults alike.  Every month, we provide more than 300 adults and children with case management and referrals to community services. The Compassion Hope Center provides food, winter and summer shelter, clothing, mentoring, case management, counseling, education, and a variety of additional life management classes. Fellowship and Food takes place on Tuesday evenings at The Compassion Hope Center.  A casual meal of soup and sandwiches is served family style followed by fellowship and inspirational discussions. GEAR (Gaining Employment and Respect) helps the unemployed, underemployed, homeless, formerly incarcerated, and survivors of domestic violence secure living wage employment.  They are schooled in interviewing skills, computer literacy, counseled on appropriate work attire, grooming and hygiene.  The Lighthouse serves as transitional shelter for families. The Benevolence Program was founded to assist those who occasionally cannot pay for their medications and helps the elderly with emergency repairs to their home. On March 1 of this year in a senseless act of hate, the new facility that was to open a week later to house many of the programs as well as another residential facility was burned down by an arsonist.  Although the building had insurance, the supplies inside did not.  Here is a note from the Giving Tree: As you may have learned, the Giving Tree’s future home on Rosemont was lost due to arson.  This building was to be home for many of the programs operated by The Giving Tree such as our recently formed Children’s Choir, as well as a distribution center for food boxes, and shelter for families.  If you wish to help us replace the items that were destroyed in the fire, your financial contribution would be appreciated. Although this catastrophe is devasting, we are thankful that there were no lives lost.  We can only imagine there are bigger and better things in store for us.  Your prayers and support truly help to ease this burden.Click here for videos  I highly encourage you to check out their website at:http://thegivingtreeoutreach.org/index.html There are many groups attempting to make a difference in this country, but none are so pure and successful as The Giving Tree Outreach Program.  I certainly highly recommend this group and its director Libby Wright.  Any help would be greatly appreciated by them.  Thank You. Giving Tree Outreach Program Libby Wright Director 4888 E. Broadway Blvd.Tucson, AZ 85711 520-320-5437